Paul F.

From shy, introvert computer developer to strategic Data and Analytics

From a very modest academic background of GCSEs and a BTEC National Diploma in Business and Finance, I found an interest in computing and relished the chance to work on my own to solve problems. I fell into an opportunity building Management Information systems at a local newspaper where I found I had a natural ability to understand people’s needs and translate them into meaningful data. I spent the most formative part of my career at Nationwide Building Society, where I found a passion for coaching, nurturing and helping others to progress and grow. Combined with my data skills this allowed me to develop into the emotionally intelligent data leader I feel I am today. Following redundancy from Nationwide after 27 years, and the imposter syndrome that followed, I joined First Central where I have found a business culture and data ambition that are the perfect match for me. I’m still an introvert at heart, but have developed skills, knowledge and capabilities that allow me to lead and inspire high performing data teams that deliver real value to businesses.

I lead the delivery of business wide data and analytics capabilities.

I lead a business-wide Data and Analytics team that enables First Central to drive value from trusted, well understood data, complying with industry, regulatory and statutory requirements. Our data governance and management function ensures our business cares for its data, safeguarding its quality, integrity, ethical usage, and consistency for decision making and underpinning everything else we do with our data. Our data engineering team designs and builds data pipelines that take raw data from our source systems, apply business and technical rules and store data in a way that can be used for reporting, business intelligence and analytics. Our Business Intelligence and Visualisation team works very closely with colleagues across our business to help them create reports, dashboards and metrics that drive decision making in our company. Our Machine Learning and Analytics team uses data science and analytical modelling techniques to find new insights and opportunities in our data that allow us to provide good , innovative product and service propositions for our customers. And finally, our Data Culture team leads colleague adoption, training and behavioural change so people across our company can maximise the use of data solutions and capabilities. It’s my pleasure to lead a talented team that delivers these services to First Central’s colleagues and customers.

Data being at the forefront of our business strategy

First Central has data front and centre in its business strategy on a page; it’s boldly declared in our definition of who we are, our purpose, and our mission which is an incredible opportunity for a data leader and their team. So, the ambition we have at First Central for data management and for creating value from it combined with a truly exceptional collaborative culture is an highly motivating environment to be in. One of the reasons I joined the business was that I wanted to work in an organisation that had a similar, ‘family-type’ feel as my previous company but one that had a more entrepreneurial, fast-paced edge to it. I have certainly found that here. Finally, because we chose to create our own insurance platform and adopted cloud technology early, the opportunities for generating rich event data and then embedding analytical models into customers’ journeys are huge. Again, this is a highly motivating element of the data ambitions of our business.

Build credibility by doing what you say you will

My career experience causes me to provide the following advice, which is relevant for opportunities here at First Central: • Build credibility by doing what you say you will • Team spirit trumps all • Seek to understand and don’t judge a book by its cover • Give people space; micro-management is a killer • Be relentless in seeking to understand yourself • Coaching and mentoring are transformational and are amazing gifts you can give to others • Take risks and be brave • Be human, be vulnerable, show emotion to make yourself accessible

Presenting at the Gartner Data & Analytics Summit

Having a modest academic achievement record and working inside a large organisation for most of my career had created an inherent feeling of imposter syndrome that caused me to doubt my own abilities and knowledge. Given the above, being invited to present at the flagship Data and Analytics event in the UK run by Gartner was a major sense of pride for me, particularly as it was on the topic of the innovative use of data harnessing leading edge approaches and technologies. Presenting to a room of a few thousand people was a huge step outside my comfort zone which gave me renewed confidence in my own abilities and convinced me the work I was leading was at the forefront of our industry.